AFC Fylde Women play their first game of 2025 on Sunday when they entertain Middlesbrough FC Women at Kellamergh Park.
Weather permitting, this home clash with the Teessiders takes place on Sunday 5th January, with kick-off at 2.00 pm.
In their last game before the winter break, the Coasters brought the curtain down on 2024 with an impressive 2-0 away win over Leeds United Women in Garforth. Following a difficult run of results in the FAWNL Division One North, Fylde produced an outstanding display against Simon Wood’s high-flying Leeds to sign off the year on a high note.
First-half strikes from Katie Bowers Folan and debutant Natasha Dale put Fylde in the ascendancy at the break. Despite making a strong start to the second half, the visitors were forced to play the remaining half-hour with only ten players after Lois Moore was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Justin Mcleod’s side defended resolutely and kept their hosts at bay, thanks in part to a series of fine saves by Skye Kirkham in between the sticks.
In the end, Fylde returned from West Yorkshire with all three points in only their third win of the season. Although the Coasters still prop up the table after 13 games played, they remain within touching distance of the teams directly above them in a tightly packed bottom half of the division.
It certainly does not get any easier for Fylde as Middlesbrough are the next visitors to Kellamergh Park this weekend. Michael Mulhern’s team registered six wins from their opening ten games and currently sit fifth in the division, with several games in hand on the chasing pack.
Last time out, the Teessiders bowed out of the FAWNL Cup after a narrow 2-1 reverse at home to Nottingham Forest Women. Charlie Wellings gave Forest an early breakthrough, before Lauren Robson’s stunning volley drew the hosts level midway through the second half. Forest soon restored their lead when Freya Thomas netted from a free-kick for what proved to be the winner.
Due to their exploits in various cup competitions, the last time the Teessiders played a league game was back in mid-November when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Barnsley FC Women. Nevertheless, Mulhern’s team will be hoping to push on in the second half of the campaign, starting with a cross-country trip to the Fylde coast in the first weekend of January.
When the two sides last met at the start of September, Middlesbrough got the better of Fylde in a 3-1 triumph in Stockton-on-Tees. On that occasion, the Reds raced into a two-goal lead inside the first ten minutes. Robson broke the deadlock before Ellen Turnbull headed home from Robson’s corner to double their advantage.
On the half-hour mark, Fylde halved the deficit when Iszy Binks scored a spectacular goal directly from a corner. The Coasters continued to search for an equaliser and came close just after the interval when Karri Chan hit the base of the post. However, the Boro Women extended their lead shortly after when Turnbull bagged a third from another set play to rubberstamp the win.
As the two teams prepare for this Sunday’s return encounter, the Coasters will be looking for a better outcome in their first fixture of the new year.
Words by Scott Jones
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